[melbourne-pug] Melbourne Community

[Mike Dewhirst]

Maurice Ling wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm away from Melbourne for 7 months and will only be back next month, 
> so I must admit that I've not been following up the happenings.

I live here and have missed maybe one or two meetings and the last 
meeting I did attend in Fitzroy didn't quite make a quorum :)

>> To that end, perhaps I could offer to collate and edit some articles
>> into an e-magazine, perhaps bringing the first issue into existence
>> around June 1? I would be happy to do put such a thing together, 

That is generous - standing ovation from me |||||||

and if
>> anyone has any articles, cookbook recipes or even simple ideas, please
>> feel free to contact me. The existence of a magazine of this kind might
>> help people feel a bit more connected? Also, if any of the more
>> long-standing members of MPUG would care to contribute an article on the
>> history of mpug, or personal accounts, that would be great.
>>
>> If people think this is a bad idea, feel free to let me know that, also.
>> Crocker's rules are fine by me.

Not in python space and especially not in Melbourne! We vote with our 
feet :) See standing ovation above.

>>  
>>
> I am largely in favour of this. I feel that in the OSS community, there 
> is still a substantial lack of documentation and support for getting 
> materials out into the public.

I strongly agree. I'd like to see an open source knowledge transfer 
system. More on that in a later discussion.

> This Melbourne Python Users' Bulletin (or letters) may be a collection 
> of published case studies or personal experiences and tutorial-like 
> articles. From an academic perspective, I believe that at least the 
> technical contents needs to be correct before "publishing", so even 
> though it is not a real academic journal, some forms of "technical 
> peer-reviewing" needs to take place.

Are you suggesting a mail-list review?

Just thinking out loud, I reckon peer review is brilliant in terms of 
you guys telling me where I'm going wrong when I show you what I'm 
doing. That is because my objective (not necessarily anyone else's) is 
to learn and improve my skills in a much more immediate time frame than 
would be possible within any formal or academic peer review situation.

Speaking for myself, I would strongly support mail-list review of 
whatever gets offered. That is where I would gain the most knowledge. I 
desperately want to see debate and constructive criticism of everyone's 
offerings because I know that's how I'll learn. Just seeing the polished 
outcome in the e-zine would not teach me as much. I'm not against polish 
I just wanna learn.

In fact I would be happy to submit my own puny efforts and suffer 
enormous embarrassment in the process. The benefit to me would be 
incalculable.

There is definitely a niche for polished peer reviewed stuff. Just last 
night I placed an order on Amazon for O'Reilly's Python Cookbook. The 
cred of the reviewers looks impeccable to me and that is what persuaded 
me to spend hard-earned money. Even so, I also visit the ASPN website 
for recipes because I see peer review debate and commentary there as well.

I think I'm saying we sacrifice bandwidth in the knowledge transfer game 
when we add formality. IMHO, absolute best and broadest knowledge 
transfer bandwidth is face-to-face discussion with whiteboards on hand. 
Next best is either Professor Google or a mail list like this. The 
narrowest knowledge transfer bandwidth is to buy and read a book. I'm 
not saying anything about the quality of the knowledge - just the speed 
and relevance at the time.

A peer reviewed e-zine would be great. The peer review would be better 
provided people got in and criticised with gusto. Maybe Crocker's Rules 
should apply (:

> 
> I've also just did an initial proposal to Firebird Foundation about 
> starting a peer-reviewed journal. (Let's talk about this off-list if you 
> are interested) 

Don't be shy - I would be more comfortable being included (or lurking) 
in the discussion.

Run with it ...

Mike


But I think the administration and moderation are the same.
> 
> I can offer my assistance to this e-zine as a form of associate editor 
> or sort if needed.
> 
> Cheers
> Maurice
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